Nisekoi follows high school students Raku Ichijo, the son of a leader in the yakuza faction Shuei-Gumi, and Chitoge Kirisaki, the daughter of a boss in a rival gang known as Beehive. They unexpectedly meet when Chitoge hops a wall and knees Raku in the face. After she runs off, Raku realizes he has lost his locket which was given to him by his childhood sweetheart with whom he made a secret promise. After discovering Chitoge is a new transfer student in his class, he forces her to help him look for the locket. During the search, they begin to dislike each other.[10]

Upon returning home, Raku learns that the Shuei-Gumi and Beehive gangs have agreed to settle their feud by pairing their leaders' children. Raku learns that his girlfriend-to-be is none other than Chitoge. For the next three years, they must pretend to be in a relationship to maintain peace between the gangs. This turns out to be quite a challenging task, not only because of their hatred for one another, but also because Raku has a crush on another schoolmate, Kosaki Onodera, whom he secretly wishes was the girl who bears the key to his locket. Various developments complicate the situation, including Chitoge's over-protective bodyguard, a female hitman, a girl who claims to be Raku's fiancée, and the existence of multiple keys. Another girl who is a head of the Chinese mafia also joins as a fiancee.

After numerous adventures with the girls, Raku realizes he has fallen for both Chitoge and Kosaki. When Chitoge learns that Raku and Kosaki have liked each other since they were in middle school, she tries to support their relationship by leaving Japan. This prompts Raku and the others to look for her. They discover more about the book that tells the story of the keys, and recall more of what actually happened ten years ago. Although it is revealed that Kosaki was the girl Raku had made the promise to marry, Raku realizes he now loves Chitoge and professes his love to her. The manga ends with the series' characters preparing for Raku and Chitoge's wedding.